Freedom camping in New Zealand: Rules, regulations and what to expect

Whether you’re seeking the slopes or the waves, the hiking tracks or the lakes, one of the best ways to explore New Zealand is undoubtedly by campervan.

There’s nothing more freeing than hitting the open road with no real plans, luggage, or expectations for where you might end up. If you’re lucky enough to be considering this, but are unsure where to start, this quick read will help a fellow campervan-er out. I know I would’ve thoroughly appreciated it while planning my first trip around New Zealand.

I left the UK on my working holiday in New Zealand ready for adventure. I was excited to explore a new country, experience a different way of life, and meet new people that I would’ve likely never encountered at home. So far, it’s been incredible. I’ve been lucky enough to explore some of the most beautiful parts of the country and expand on my passion for the outdoors and running, all while gaining invaluable experience in the workplace.

Once I’d settled into my new life in Auckland, and established some sense of routine away from home, it was time to start planning my first road trip. I immediately took to the internet to explore my options and concluded that hiring a van was not only the most exciting but also incredibly practical and affordable. While I could spend hours writing about the entire experience, here I’m going to delve into, and hopefully simplify, the rules and regulations surrounding freedom camping in Aotearoa (New Zealand) as a campervan user, and some of the things that I think you should know before setting up in one of the country’s many beautiful free camping spots.

What is freedom camping?

Freedom camping is a term widely used in New Zealand to refer to the act of camping for free on public land, whether that be owned by local authorities or the Department of Conservation (DOC). Naively, before planning my first trip, I assumed that you could pretty much set up camp anywhere and settle in for the night. While this may sound ideal, overnight camping restrictions are enforced across Aotearoa for a very good reason.

New Zealand is home to a diverse array of native species of bird, animal, plant, and fauna, many of which are under threat in the face of climate change and habitat degradation. Local authorities and the DOC actively work to protect these species by enforcing strict restrictions on land use and access. It’s super important that these regulations are respected to ensure that we can all continue to enjoy the beauty that Aotearoa has to offer for many years to come, and also avoid being lumped with a pretty hefty fine.

Where can I freedom camp?

Now that we’ve established why freedom camping restrictions are so important, let’s explore your options for tracking down the best spots. There are two ways that you could go about this. If you want to check the camping rules at a specific location, you could go directly to the local council website and acquire the information that way. While this may sound reasonably simple, as a newbie to freedom camping, I would instead recommend that you use a freedom camping search engine or app. This way you can be sure that you haven’t misinterpreted any information or missed any prime camping spots.

I found the ‘Camper Mate’ app extremely helpful. Each site is plotted on a map, alongside some key information on site capacity, what facilities are available, and who is eligible to camp there. Make sure you fully understand whether you’re allowed to camp at a specific spot - at some sites you might only be able to camp overnight if your vehicle obtains a self-contained certificate.

What does it mean to be self-contained, and how will I know if my vehicle if self-contained?

I won’t bore you with the details of New Zealand’s Standard for Self-Containment of Motor Caravans and Caravans, which lays out the minimum sanitary standards for campervans, but it’s important to know whether your (hired) vehicle obtains a self-contained certificate before hunkering down for the night. This is relatively easy to establish, as most companies will clearly specify if a vehicle is self-contained in the vehicle description section, making our lives pretty simple. This information should be reasonably easy to find, and if not, I would recommend either contacting the company directly for more clarity or looking elsewhere. There’s plenty of great vehicle and campervan hire companies in New Zealand, with many helpful and friendly staff who are ready to respond to any queries. Trust me, no question is too silly or too simple.

Finally, here are a few quick tips that I would’ve appreciated before setting off on my first campervanning adventure…

• When you rock up at a freedom camping spot, give the site information board (if provided) a good read. This way you can familiarise yourself with the specific site rules and hopefully avoid any accidental slip-ups.

• Look out for information relating to site capacity before you arrive at a freedom camping spot to avoid disappointment, especially in peak tourist season (December-February). Some sites may only be able to accommodate a certain number of vehicles per night and will therefore operate on a first come first served basis.

• Check how many consecutive nights you’re allowed to stay at a site in advance. Some freedom camping spots only allow vehicles to stay for one or two nights so plan your route accordingly.

• Many freedom camping sites do not have a running supply of drinking water, so make sure you arrive with enough water to see you through your intended stay. Speaking from experience, you’ll likely need more than you’d expect.

• Never leave rubbish bags outside of your van overnight (or anytime for that matter). This is not only prohibited but also could leave you with a few pesky insects to deal with in the morning. So I’d advise leaving your rubbish bag tied up in your van overnight (preferably away from your sleeping area).

• On a similar note, make sure that you’re always equipped with a supply of bin bags. Most freedom camping spots operate on a ‘leave no trace’ policy, meaning they do not provide on-site waste disposal facilities. All waste, be that general, grey water or toilet, must therefore be disposed of at an allocated dump station. These can be found on the side of many roads around New Zealand and are usually clearly signed. You can also use the Camper Mate app to identify dump stations along your route.

This may feel like an information overload right now, but once you get out on the road these tips and tricks will soon become second nature. Most importantly it’s all about having fun, seizing the adventure, and getting in touch with your spontaneous side, all while protecting Aotearoa’s delicate habitat and being considerate of others on the road. With all this said, happy camping!

For more information on how to apply for a working holiday in New Zealand, head over to our Work New Zealand page